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*' Picket Guards 



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A Military Drama. 



A NllLITARY DrATvIA 

IINTITLED 

THE PICKET GUARDS 

OR 

A Day with our SoIvDibrs on the Picket Lines 

DURING THE War of the REBEIvIvION. 



Commencing with the Dawn of Day, (Reveille). 
Ending with Taps at Night, (Tattoo). 



Including the Calls, with Bugle, Drum and Fife, 



.a 

J Music and Songs as Played and Sung ^^--<T^ 

at that Period. /<C' ^^^ 






Composed and Dramatized 
Joseph Woodfield, 

CAMDEN, N. J. 
I^ate Corporal E Co., ist Reg. Del Cav. 






SYNOPSIS OF SCENERY 






^ 



Overture, "77/^ Daivning of the Day and Quick Scotchy'' 

Orchestra. 

ACX I. 

Scene I St. Picket Post. Reveille. Breakfast. Arrest of Gabe 
the contraband. Negro eccentricities. 

Scene 2d. Home of Capt. Harry Johnson. Meeting of brother 
and sister. 

Scene 3d, Capt. Cushman's tent. Southern lady demands 
her slave. 

Scene 4th. Gabe captures a rooster. Chased by Confederates. 
Black cat substituted for rooster by soldiers. 

Scene ^th. Dinner call. Gabe steals chicken from kettle. Puts 
cat in kettle for soldier's dinner. 

Scene 6th. Capt. Cushmau at dinner. Battle between Union 
and Rebel Pickets. Sword fight between Union 
and Rebel Captains. The Dying Picket. Song: 
"Who will care for mother now." Tableaux. 



ACX ir. 

Overture. — Orchestra. 

Scene ist. Corpl. O'Shaunasy and Gabe comment on the war. 

Scene 2d. Sutler's tent. Soldiers purchasing with tickets. 
Gabe entertains himself with music, etc. 



TMP92-007646 



SYNOPSIS OF SCENERY continued. 



Scene 4th. 



Scene ist. 
Scene 2d. 
Scene jd. 



Scene J df. Gabe arrested. Tried by Drumhead Court Mar- 
shal ; sentenced to be promoted ; sentence carried 
out with a Barrel. 



Corpl. and Gabe captured by Rebels. Corpl. and 
Gabe in Rebel guard house. "Song: In the Pri- 
son Cell I Sit." Re-captured b}- Union Pickets. 
Song: "When Johnnie comes Marching Home." 
Meeting of Capt. Cushman and Miss Johnson. 
Capt. Cushman captured by Rebels Released 
by Gabe. Capt. Cushman captures Miss John- 
son's heart. Song: "When this Cruel War is 
over." Gabe sscys, another breastwork captured. 
Tableaux. 



ACX iir. 

Overture. — Orchestra. 

Gabe plays a joke on Sergt. and Corpl. 

Raid on Sutler's tent. Amusements before Tattoo. 

Tattoo. The soldiers' dream. Tableaux and Song, 
* 'The vacant chair. ' ' "Taps. ' ' 



STAGE PROPERTY. 

I^arge tent for Senior Capt. and Sutler, Gas Log, large Iron 
Kettle, small Tin Kettle for soup inside Iron Kettle, 2 Fork 
Sticks and Cross Piece to hang Kettle on. Flour Barrel, one 
head hole in same, Corpl. Stripes on each side of Barrel, Black 
Cloth Cat, Chicken Dressed, Live Rooster, Grain Bag, Snake 
Fence, 2 Camp Stools, Small Table, Canteens and Haversacks. 



CHARACTERS. 



Capt. Geo. Cushman, Officer of the day, U. S. A. 
Capt. Harry Johnson, C. S. A. 
Miss Laura Johnson, Southern Lady. 
Sergt. Wiluams, Sergeant of Guards. 
Corpi,. Miles O'Shaunasy, Corporal of Guard. 
Gabe Johnson, Contraband. 
Union Pickets. 
Confederate Pickets. 



ACT ist. Scene ist. 

Picket Post with stack of arms, right of stage ; 
Sergt. and four Pickets lying down asleep ; Corporal 
sitting on camp-stool ; i picket on Guard. 

Corporal — "It's time for Reveille." (Corporal re- 
tires, bugle sounds Reveille at distance ; then sounds 
Assembly. Pickets rise, fall in, rear of guns ; soldiers 
run on from left of stage, putting on their coats, fall in 
line single-file.) 

Sergt. — Take arms. Forms two lines (two ranks 
form Company "March"); form on left of Pickets. 
Corporal hands Sergeant Roll of Names ; Sergt. calls 
Roll ; Pickets and Soldiers answer to their names ; 
then Sergt. takes right of line. Officer of the Day ap- 



proaches from right of stage ; Sergt. salutes and re- 
ports all present, and absentees accounted for. Officer 
passes down in front of line, tells Sergt. to dismiss 
Company. Officer salutes and retires, left of stage. 
Soldiers left flank and march off, left of stage 

Sergt. — Stack arms. Breaks (Pickets) ranks and 
tells them to get breakfast. Pickets light fire, and 
hold cups as if cooking coffee ; then begin to eat hard 
tack and drink. Sergt. takes seat on camp stool. 
Corporal takes Hard Tack (army cracker) from haver- 
sack and lays it on stage while he gets his cup. Hard 
Tack previously connected to side of stage with fine 
thread ; some one in the wing pulls on thread, cracker 
starts slowly aw^ay from Corporal ; Corporal catches 
Hard Tack and exclaims : Oh ! murther, look at the 
tinnents carrying their house away wid thim. Come 
back here ye O mad houns and pay your rint Breaks 
cracker so thread can be pulled away Sergt. takes 
paper out of his pocket. 

Sergt. — "Corpl., I read bad news in this paper last 
night. The rebel Ram Merrimac came down from 
Norfolk and attacked the Frigate Cumberland and 
Congress, sunk both vessels, with a loss of several hun- 
dred lives ; but the next day, the little floating cheese- 
box or Monitor appeared in the Chesapeake Ba}^ and 
attacked the Merrimac, which was at this time about 
to ram the steam Frigate Minnesota. The Monitor 
steamed up between the two vessels and had the fire of 
the rebel directed upon herself. After a spirited battle 
the Merrimac withdrew from the contest, defeated, and 
proceeded up the Elizabeth River w^hence she came." 



(Pickets hurrah for the Monitor). 

Corpl. — "Well yez might hurra b3'es, that was close 
fightin. Sure I'd rather be behind the trees takin me 
chances wid the Minnie balls, as me ould man use to 
say he'd ra\ ther be at the other ind of the goat whin it 
tried to but': him." 

/^//^/r/'6V.— "Turn out. The Officer of the Day is 
coming." 

Sergt. — "Fall in, Guards !" (Pickets put their cups 
in haversacks and fall i'n rear of guns.) 

Scrgt. — "Take arms ! Carry arms !" (Enter Officer 
of Day, right of stage.) 

Sergt. — "Present arms!" (Sergt. salutes, Capt. re- 
turns salute.) "Carry arms ! Order arms!" 

Capt. — "Sergeant, the Commanding General has 
just issued orders to keep a sharp look -cut for the 
enemy, as they are likely to advance on our lines at 
any moment " 

Sergt. — 'Yes sir ; I have noticed that the rebels 
have been moving very lively this morning ; I expect 
there is a battle brewing." 

Capt — "Quit^ likely we will be engaged before the 
day is over." 

Sergt. — "I suppose you read the news about the 
battle betwen the Monitor and Merrimac ?" 

Capt. — "Yes; a lucky event for our Union when 
the Monitor came tv) the assistance of our vessels, 
otherwise tbe Merrimac would have sunk our fleet, 



battered down Fortress Monroe, then steamed up the 
Potomac River to Washington, and you know what 
the result would be." (Noise back of scene, between^ 
Picket No. 2 and Gabe the contraband ; No. 2 Picket 
calls Corporal of the Guard Post No 2 ; Picket No. r 
repeats call ; Corporal runs in direction of Picket, left 
of stage, arrests Gabe and returns, challenged by No. 
I who comes there, etc. Corporal advances from left 
of stage, with prisoner (Gabe) complaining about being 
arrested ; making loud noise. 

Sergt. — ** Silence! Corporal, who have you got 
there?" 

Corp' I — "A contraryband, sir." 

Sergt — "You mean a contraband." 

Corpl. — "Sure he's the contrariest nagur I've met 
since I've been in the army, and the Picket says he 
caught him sphying around our Posht " 

Sergt. — "Spying aroung our Post ?" 

Corpl. — " Yis sir. " (Sergeant salutes and reports to 
Captain.) 

Capt. — "What is your nimie ?" 

Contraband — "Gabe. sah. Gabe Johnsing, sar; 
named after ole; Mars Johnsing, back oa de plantation, 
sah ; he dun rua away, sah ; cause he hern de Yankees 
was comiui" 

Capt. — "Well, what have got to say ? You are re- 
ported spying around our picket post." 

Gabe — "Deed, sah, I want doin no harm. Ole Marse, 



he run dat way an I dun run dis way, den I spied a 
possum up a tree, den bang went a gun ; den kazue ! 
something flew p-^st my ear, I thot fo suah I was a 
dead nigger. Den somebody grabs me and 5:ay you my 
prisoner. I tries to s plain to him ; but he wouldn't 
listen, and fotch me htre." 

'Capt — "Do you know that you are liable to be shot 
as a s^ 3' ?" 

Gabc — (Falling on his knees) "Oh! Mars Captain, 
please doan let em shoot at me any moah, dey might 
hit me de nex time." 

Capt. — "Come, get up!" (Gabe rises, takes torn 
handkerchief from pocket to wipe his eyes, handker- 
chicf sl:ps down on wrist. Puts handkerchief in front 
of his face.) 

Gabc — "Captain, what dat look like ?" 

Capt. — "It lool^s like a map of the Southern Con- 
federacy." 

Gabc — "Wid a nigger in de back-ground." 

Capt. — ' 'Your story sounds pretty straight, I suppose 
you are like the rest of the contrabands, you will want 
to remain with the Union Soldiers. How would you 
like to be my cook ?'' 

Gabc — I'se your man. I kin cook, wash dishes, an 
am a reglar house- keeper." (Laugbs very loud.) 
Someone repeats at a distance, like an echo. 

(jabc — (Very much frightened.) "What's dat ? 

O//.—* That's the echo." 

8 



6^^/^^— ''What's de echo?" 

Capt. — "A sound vibrating through the woods. 

Gabe — (Whistles, echo at distance) "Is dat anoder 
echo ?" 

C<2/»/.— "Yes." 

Gabe — "Hole on, Mars Captain ; I fool dat echo ; 
my gal lives over dar." (Calls in loud voice "Marier!" 
Echo, 'You're a liar !" Gabe, very angry, starts in 
direction of echo.) 

C<2j^/.— "Where are you going ?" (Catches Gabe by 
the arm.) 

Gabe — "I was gwine to cotch dat fellow what called 
me a liar." 

Capt. — "Oh, nonsense. I tell you that it is only 
the sound ot your voice in the woods." 

Gabe. — "Mars Captain, lemme try him agin." Claps 
his hands once, (echo, once); claps twice, (echo, twice); 
opens his arms and brings his hands together once, re- 
peats same but brings his arms across his body; (echo, 
claps). "Dar, I tole you so, I didn't clap dat time." 

Capt. — "That was an echo from one of your former 
sma:ks just returned ; wait and you will not hear it 
agam. See?" 

Gabe. — "Yes, sah ; I doan see much, but I hearn 
more dan I likes ; sounds like spooks." 

Capt.—''h\\ right. It is settled then, I will leave 
you with the boys; but have my breakfast ready when 
I call for it." 



Gabe —"Yes, sah ; I'll be dar." 

Capt. — (to Sergt.) "I will retire to my tent ; you 
will promptly notify me if anything unusual occurs." 
(Capt. salutes and retires, right of stage. Corpl. re- 
lieves Picket). 

Scrgt.—''St2iQk arms ! Break ranks ! &c. "Gabe ! 
you are a comical coon, can you sing us a song ?" 

Soldiers.— ''Song, Song." (Gabe sings song; re- 
peats if called on.) 

Sergt. — ''That's pretty good ; you had better report 
to the Captain and get his breakfast." (Gabe ^tires 
right of stage.) (Sergt. marches Pickets off the right 
of stage.) 



ACT ist. Scene 2d. 

Home of Capt. Harry Johnson, C. S. A. 

Miss Johnson heard singing at a distance. 

Enter Miss Laura Johnson from left of stage at conclu- 
sion of last verse of Bonnie Blue Flag. 

Miss Laura. — 'Here I am all alone again ; our last 
slave has ran away and gone over to those Yankee 
hirelings Gab- told me last night that the Yankee 
Pickets were on our Plantation. Oh, how I wish 
brother Harry was here with his brave Southern men 
and drive those horrid Yankees off our place." 

Enter Capt. Johnson, right of stage, (embraces her.) 

Capt. Joh7iso7i. — "Well, I^aura, I see you are all 



alone, what is the trouble now ? Where is all the 
hands?" 

Miss Laura. — "They have all run away, but my 
maid ; the best one we had, left this morning. How 
about yourself, do you know that the Yankees are on 
our Plantation now ?" 

Capt. Harry, — ^ 'Oh., yes. I managed to pass their 
Pickets unobserved. But I must not stay long, my 
place is with the boys. I think we are going to have 
a lively time of it to-day, so I would advise you to 
keep within doors as much as possible." 

Miss Laura. — " Harry, i tell you what I am going 
to do. I shall call on that Yankee Capt. over there 
and compel him to deliver Gabe over to me. We 
must have one man on the place." 

Capt. Harry — "I do not think you will succeed in 
getting Gabe back again, I may meet them in a fight 
to day and if we succeed in the battle, I may have the 
pleasure of returning Gabe to you ; however be very 
careful, do not expose yourself, those Yankee Officers 
have a very captivating way about them and one of 
them may be successful in capturing you. 

Miss Lau7'a. — "No danger, Harry, my heart is with 
the Southern cause and no Yankee Officer can capture 
it." 

Capt. Harry. — "Well Laura, I must bid you good- 
bye, it is tirxie for me to join my command." (embraces 
her, and retires to right.) 

Miss Laura. — (Following him out.) "Good bye, 



Harry, may God bless you and our just cause.' 

ACT I St. Scene 3d. 

Enter CapT. right of stage. (Sits at table writing.) 

Crt/)/.— ''Well, I have finished my report." (Calls 
Orderly.) 

Enter Orderi^y right of stage and salutes. 

Capt. — "Deliver this to the Colonel, with my com- 
pliments." (Orderly retires right of stage.) 

Capt. — "I guess I will have my breakfast now." 
(Calls Gabe.) 

Enter Gabe, right of stage. ''Yes, Sir." 

Capt. — "Have you got my breakfast ready ? I'm 
hungry." 

Gabe., — "Yes, Sah ; breakfast all ready but settin." 
(Clears table.) "I'll go fotch it.' (Exit Gabe 
to right.) Then returns with haversack, containing 
tin-plate, cup and hard tack and black cup hanging 
on end of stick, as if from a fire. Gabe arranges table. 

Capt. — "Gabe, is this the best you can do." 

Gabe. — "Best I can do uuder de presen circum- 
stancts , I aiut had no chance to forage yet, sah." 

Capt. — "This a very poor breakfast for a commis- 
sioned officer, but I suppose I will have to put up 

with it." (Commences to eat.) 

Gabe. — "Is you fond of chicken, sah?" 



Capt. — *'Yes ; I am particularly fond of chicken. 
Why?" 

Gabe. — ' 'Cause I know whar dere is a chicken house; 
I'll try and cotch yo one for ^ o dinner. Very ticklish 
though ; plenty ob rebs roun dar." 

Capt. — "Be very careful or you will get caught 
yourself. ' ' 

Gabe. — "If dey cotch dis coon dere will be a lively 
foot race befo dat happens shuah." 

Capt. — "Clear away the table, Gabe. (Clears the 
table and retires.) (Orderly enters to right, salutes.) 
"Captain, a lady to see you, Sir." 

G?/*/.— "Admit her." (Exit Orderly, saluting.) 

Enter Southern I^ady from right of stage. 

Lady. — "How do you do. Sir ?" (Very dignified.) 

Capt. — (Rising.) "How do you do, Madam. Whom 
have I the pleasure of addressing ?" 

Lady. — "Laura Johnson, Sir." 

Capt. — "What can I do for you. Miss Johnson ?" 

Lady. — "One of oui: slaves escaped ; I was told he 
had entered the Union lines ; the men lolks are all ab- 
sent. If this slave is with your soldiers, I demand 
that he be delivered into my possession at once." 

Capt. — "What is his name ?" v 

Z^^.— "Gabe, Sir." 

Capt, — "A colored man by that name is now within 
13 



the Union lines ; we have received orders to protect all 
colored people that may claim our protection." 

Lady. — (Indignantly.) "So you lefuse to deliver 
up my property ?" (Gabe at side shaking his head 

*'No.") 

Capt. — ' 'I must positively decline to grant your re- 
quest, Madam." 

Lady. — ' 'It is a shame , our men have all gone to 
fight for their rights, the slaves have escaped. No one 
to take care of the plantation." 

Capt. — "Such is the fortune of war. Madam." 

Lady. — (In anger.) "Sir, you Northern people have 
despoiled our land, robbed us of our slaves. I hope 
to see the day that the tyrannical Yankees will be 
driven Irom our Southern soil." 
Exit lad}^ to right of stage. 

Capt. — (Whistles) "My! aint she a scorcher?" 
"And a devlish fine looking girl too." 

Enter Gabe from left of stage. 

Gabe. — "Captain, I was awful afraid Miss Laura 
would suade you to sen me back again ; dere ain men- 
ny men dat kin refuse her." 

Capt. — "In this case, it is not the men, it is our 
Government , it is time for me to visit the Pickets. 
(Exit Capt. to right.) 

Gabe. — "Time for de Captain to visit de Pickets ; I 
guess its time fer me to visit de chicken-house." (Gabe 
removes table and stool to right of stage.) 

14 



ACT ist. Scene 4th. 

Knter Gabe very cautiously with a bag, crosses the 
stage, reaches down at hole and pulls out live rooster 
and puts it in bag. Rebel Picket at distance tells him 
to drop that chicken ; Gabe starts to run ; Rebel 
Picket after bim across the stage ; Goes around the 
scene, comes back, meets Union Picket right of stage, 
gun aiming at Rebel. Picket cries "Halt ! Surrender!" 
Rebel — "Yank, you've got the drop on me I surren- 
der." (Lays down gun.) Union Picket takes up rebel 
gun and marches Rebel off the right of stage. (Enter 
Gabe left of stage, out of breath, opposite side of stage 
without bag. 

Gabe, — "G~>lly ! dat was a foot-race ; he like to cotch 
me." 

Eater Captain, right of stage. 

C(^;^/.— "Attention ! What's the trouble now ?" 

Gabe. — "While you was visitin de Pickets, I went 
visitin de chicken-house, an a Rebel liked to stick me 
with his bayonet ; but I chased de Rebel in de Union 
lines." 

- Capt, — "Who got into the Union lines first ?" 

Gabe. — "Me, sah ; I kotched two roosters at once 
dat time." 

Capt. — "Well did you get a chicken ?" 

Gabe.— ''Oh. yes, sah. I'll go an fotch him." (Exit 
Gabe left of stage.) Returns with bag over shoulder. 

15 



*'I got him, sah ; big live rooster." (Opens bag, out 
junaps big black cat, some one has duplicated.) 

Gabe. — (Very frightened.) ''Golly ! Mars Captain, 
dais de debil, shuah." 

Capt. — **I don't see much devil about it, neither am 
I a Chinaman. I am not partial to cats for dinner." 

Gabe. — (Scratching his head ) "I know what's de 
matter; dem soldiers don stole de Captain's rooster. 
Captain, you'll hab chicken fer dinner yet ; you hear 
me tell you ?" 

Capt. — Very well, I will retire to my tent, and ex- 
pect to have my dinner without any cats connected 
with it. ' (Exit Captain right of stage.) 

Gabe. — **Yes, sah ; I spect somebody else will hab 
pleasure ob de cat dinner." (Exit Gabe left of stage.) 



ACT ist. Scene 5th. 

Camp-fire, large kettle hanging over fire ; soldier 
cooking dinner. 

Enter Gabe right of stage. 

Gabe. — "Hello ; cooking dinner ?" 

Soldier.— ''Y^^.'' 

Gabe. — "What's yo cookin ?" 

Soldier. — "Only a piece of salt pork." 

Gabe. — (Aside.) "Dat's de Captain's chicken. I 
smell him." 

16 



Gabe. — ' Dat's poor eatia when dere is plen'y oh 
fresh pork runnin roun. I saw a little pig runnin dov, u 
by the fence ju^t now." 

Soldier, — (Jumps up.) "A pig ! Which way ?" 

Gabe. — "Rigtit ober dar." (Exit soldier left of stage.) 

Gabe steals chicken out of kettle, burns his fingers, 
drops it on the stage, rolls it in h's haidkercliief. starts 
off, chicken drops through hole in handkerchief, then 
ties handkerchief around chicken's neck and retires to 
right of stage. Conies back with dead cat (and de cat 
came back), and puts it in kettle. (Exit Gabe to 
right.) "Dey won't fool dis coon much." 

Enter soldier left of stage . 

Soldier. — "C.mfound that nigger ; he made a fool of 
me ; I couldn't find any pig." (Bugle sounds dinner- 
call.) Rest of Pickets run on right of stage, fall in 
line with their tin cups. 

Sergt. — "Cook, what have you got for dinner ?" 

Soldier. — (Aside.) "I stole the nigger's chicken 
and cooked it for dinner ! Mum's the word." 

Sergt. — "All right, dish it out." Soldier dips soup 
to each man. They pU pretend to eat. After supply- 
ing the last man, soldier dips out the cat and drops it. 

Soldier. — "Great Scott ! W lere's that nigger ?" All 
run off left of stage trying to throw up their dinner. 

17 



ACT ist. Scene 6th. 

Enter Captain to right, 

Capt. — "I have been promised a good dinner. I 
wonder .where the cook is ?" (Calls cook.) 

Gabe.—''Yts sah." (Enter Gabe to left.) 

Capt. — "Dinner ready, Gabe?" 

Gabe. — "Yes sah ; I "11 go fotch it." Gabe returns 
with table and camp-stool ; then chicken on tin plate ; 
haversack ; black cup of coffee ; then sets table. 

r^/>/— (Sitting down.) "Oh, that looks better than 
a cat dinner." 

Gabe. — ' Yes sah ; de cat aint in it dis time." (Capt. 
eats dinner in conversation with Gabe. (Exit Gabe.) 
Bugle or long roll on Drum at distance. 

Capt. — (Jumping up.) "Hello ! The rebels must be 
advancing ! 

Capt. retires to right. Enter Gabe and removes ta- 
ble. Enter Capt , Rally boys ; Pickets rush on right 
of stage, form squart^ at charge bayonets. Captain in 
centre. Gabe outside. 

Capt. — "Carry arms; Right and left into line, 
march !" Capt. and Gabe in rear. Gabe lying on 
ground. Rebels yell. 

Capt. — "Ready ! Aim ! Fire ! (Explode two or three 
caps.) 

Ca/)/.— "Cease firing !" 



Gabe. — "Say fellows, do you hear my heart beat 
agin de groun ? (Rebels yell again, and firing in dis- 
tance.) 

Capt. — ' 'Charge bayonets ! Charge ! ' ' Union soldiers 
hurrah and charge acrjss stage to left behind scenes ; 
are driven back on stage by rebels. Union and Rebel 
Captains meet and engage in sword combat. Union 
soldiers drive Rebels off stage to left. Union and Rebel 
Captains cross swords. 

Rebel Capt. — ''Ah ha, you cussed Yankee, we have 
met at last ; your men have driven our forces back, 
but by heavens, I for one will not retreat. May our 
cause meet with the same success that I hope for in 
this contest ; now defend yourself." They engage in 
sword combat in i, 2, 3 order up and down After the 
second trial, Union Capt. disarms the Rebel Capt. by 
knocking sword on stage. 

Rebel Capt. — (Folding his arms across his breast.) 
"You have the advantage of me, take it. I can have 
the hoaor of -dying for a cause I consider just ; I am 
only sorry I leave one behind me without a protector. ' ' 

Union Capt. — "Sir, I believe I have the honor of 
addressing Capt. Harry Johnson of the confederate 
army." 

Rebel Capt. — "You have, Sir, and you are Captain 
Cushman, U. S. A.?" 

Union Capt. — "Yes, Sir ; I do not wish to take ad- 
vantage of the position in which you are placed 
(sheathes his sword) but would rather shake a friend- 



19 



ly hand and hope the cause you are fightirg for may 
terminate in ibe same manner (the clasp hands). Take 
your sword and return to the one you say needs a 
Protector. ' ' 

Rebel Capt. — "Sir, this is more than I could expect; 
but as it comes from an honorable and brave man, I 
accept it. Good day, Sir." 

Rebel Captain retires, right of stage. Enter Sergt. 
and two prisoners left of stage. 

Capt. — "Sergeant, you will place a responsible man 
on this Post, as it is a dangerous position, then draw 
your men back in the woods, deliver your prisoners 
and await orders." (Exit Capt. and Gabe to the right 
of stage. Sergt. and men march off right of stage with 
prisoners, leaving one Picket on guard, right of stage. 

Picket — ' 'So this is the honor conferred on a respon- 
sible man. Well, it is what I enlisted for. I came 
with the determination to help restore this glorious 
Union. It was what I premised my dear old mother 
when I left home (hears a noise). Hello, what's that? 
Halt ! Who comes there ? ' ' 

Enter Corporal of the Guard with countersign, right 
of stage. 

Picket. — ** Advance Corporal and give countersign." 

Picket. — "Corporal look out. There's a Johnnie, 
now." Picket dodges around, faces to left of stage, 
Corporal in his rear. Shot fired ; Picket claps his 
hand on his left breast ; Corporal catches his gun. 



Picket. — ' At last ! I am the next to forfeit a life in 
this glorious cause. My dear widowed mother ; whit 
will you do without your son ? Mother, Mother, 'who 
will care for Mother now ?" (Falls back in Corporal's 
arms. Soldiers, form right of stage surround dead 
Picket. Remove their hats ; song in rear of stage, 
'Who will care for Mother now.) Tableaux while 
singing last verse. Curtain falls. 



ACT 2d. Scene ist. 

Enter Corpl. right of stage. 

CorpL — "Sure these are sorry times we are havin 
now, wid fightin (puts his hand under his coat and 
scratches) the gray backs an Rebels we are kept purty 
busy. (Scratches his leg) Here let go now, yez hardly 
give a poor divil time to talk. I had the laugh on one of 
the byes beyant just now. He had two eyes but could 
see out of only one. It was fun to see him ganning on 
his shirt instead of killin a grayback. He trying to 
kill the kaot on the end of the thread that his shirt 
was sewed wid. Hello, here comes the Nagur." 

Enter Gabe left of stage. 

Gabe. — "Say Corpl., when is you uns gwine to quit 
dis fightin ?" 

Picket. — ''Not until the States become united again, 
and t/ie glorious old stars and stripes can float proudly 
over Ihem. ' ' 



Gabc. — "Den who's gwine to take care ob me when 
that happens ?" 

Corpl. — (Aside.) "Begorry, I think he's big and 
ugly enough to take care of himself." 

Corpl. — "It is reported that President Lincoln is 
about to issue his Emancipation Proclamation, and 
then all nagurs will be free." 

Gabe. — "Den we all git a acre ob groun an a mule." 

Co?'pL — (Aside.) "Sure its a wonder he didn't have 
a house thiowed in." 

Co7'pL — "So it is reported." 

Gabe. — "Den I can hire you to drive de mule." 

Corpl. chases Gabe off the left of stage. 



ACT 2d. Scene 2d. 

Soldiers at Sutler's tent, back of stage. After three 
or lour soldiers have made their purchases, enter 
Corpl. left of stage; "Have >ez any Murphys, Mr. 
Sutler?' 

Sutler. — "Murphjs? No, we don't sell Irishmen, 
here." 

Corpl. — "No, ror yez likely to ayther, but I say, i 
have yez any spuds ?" * 

Sittler. — "Spuds ! What do you take me for any- i 
how. " I 



Corpl. — "Begorra, I wouldn't take yez for anything 



if ye are that dumb, well have 3^e any Peraties ?"' 

Sutler. — "Potatoes ! Yes, why didn't you say po- 
tatoes in the first place." 

Corpl. — ''Because in the second place I dint think 
you were that green. How much are yez Peraties?" 

Sutler. — "75 cents a quarter peck." 

Corpl. — "Houly Moses, begorra there must be 
another famine in ould Ireland, I say Sutler, do yez 
trust?" 

Sutler. — "No, Sir. You will have to go to your 
Captain and get an order, then I will give you its 
equivalent in tickets." 

Corpl. — (Retiring to right of stage.) ''Sure I think 
its a ticket of leave I'll get, when I ax the captain." 

Enter Gabe, left of stage and in front. ' Dese am 
awful rough times ; don't know when you's gwine to 
get plugged wid a brllet. De captain "s layin down and 
things am sort ob quiet. I thought I would amuse 
myself wid a little music. A fellow tole me de odder 
day dat if I would gin him a dollar he would buy a 
bird-cage and make me a present of a mocking bird — 
dat's de las I seen ob de fellow or de dollar. Dis is 
what he was to put in de cage." (Plays Mocking Bird 
on whistle. In the second part, some one imitates 
mocking bird in rear of stage) then Gabe plays on two 
whistles. Someone asks him to play with his far. 
Pats one whistle to ear, pretends to blow. Soaicone 
plays in rear of sta8:e. Gabe takes the whistle fr m 
ear before music stops, listens, then says, ' Dit'o ce 

23 



echo," starts t > retire. 

(A.ny amusing incident can be substituted for above.) 

Knter Corporal from right of stage. 

Corpl — "Gabe, the Sergeant wants you." 

iicibc — "What'o Sargep.nt want?" 

Corpl. — "Come and see.' ' ( Exit Corporal and Gabe 
right cf stage. 



ACT 2d. 5cene 3d. 

Sergeant and soldiers standing around a drum. 

Enter Corporal and Gabe. 

Sergt. — 'Place that man (pointing to Gabe) under 
arrest. 

(Two vSoldiers grasp Gabe by each arm). 

^'^r^/.— "Gabe, you are charged with — 

Gabe — What; wid powder?" 

Sergt. — Silerce ! You are charged with abstracting 
a po-tion of the Pickets' dinner and substituting a 
dead cat for the same." 

Gabe — "I a'nt guilty." 

Sergt. — "You have been tried by a drum-head 
Court-Martial, and sentenced to be promoted. 

Gabe. — What's dat ; gwine ter make me a Corpor- 
al ?" 

Sergt. — "Bring forth the promoter." (Soldiers 

24 



bring in a barrel with hole in head, put it over Gabe's 
shoulders, with his head through the head of barrel ; 
corporal stripes on each side of ba|;rel. 

Gabe — "Now I'se dun been promoted, I spose I'sea 
Corporal." 

Sergeant marches Pickets at charge bayonets, rear 
of Gabe; orchestra plays rogue's march; bugle sounds 
assembly ; soldiers return on double quick, form line 
right of stage, Capt. on right ; Rebels yell. 

Ca//.— Charge bayonets, charge ! (to left of stage.) 
(Soldiers hurrah : sounds of battle; then quiet. Rebels 
yell, then two rebels appear on left of stage and march 
across with Corporal O'Shaunasy and Gabe in front 
of them ; disappear on other side. 

ACT 2d. Scene 4th. 

Fence in front of guard house. Rebel Guard House. 
Corporal O'Shaunasy at bars talking. Rebel Guard marching 
to and fro. 

i^t'<^^/^(stops) "You Yanks, keep quiet, there." 

Gabe—O^i, if I had de small-pox." 

Rebel — "What would you do if you had ?" 

Gabe — "I might break out." 

Reb tries to bayonet him, but misses ; then comes 
to Order Arms. 

Reb — ''If I had my way, I'd hang every one of you 
infernal Yankees." 

25 



Corporal O' Shauiiasy — ' 'Hanging would be far better 
than the treatment we get here.' (Rebel retires left 
of stage. 

Corpl. — ' Good-bye, Johnnie, ma}^ good luck always 
follow after you, and may it never overtake you." 
(Song back of stage, 'In the Prison Cell I sit) After 
song, firing heard rear of stage ; bugle sounds ; Rebel 
yell ; Soldiers hurrah, then rush on stage, break open 
guard house and release Corporal and Gabe ; then 
place flag at gate, form in line. Capt. orders Sergt. 
to place Picket on guard, stack arms and break ranks. 

Capt. — "Well, boys we have succeeded in recaptur- 
ing our comrade, suppose we cekbrate the event by 
singing a song. (AH sing 'Rally around the Flag.') 

Capt. — "Sergeant, move your men back of the town 
a little distance, place your Pickets, keep a sharp look- 
out and don't let the eiemy surprise you during my 
absence. I contemplate going on a little scout on ray 
own account. I'll return in about an hour." (Exit 
Capt. and Gabe, right of stage.) 

Sergt. — (Aside) I know all about that little scouting 
that the Captain is going on. I saw the young ladj^ 
walking down the road just now, that came after Gabe 
this morning. I believe that the Cap'ain has fallen in 
love with her, and there will be trouble over it yet.'' 

"Attention ! Fall in Guards ! Take Arms ! (pick- 
et joins guards) Carry Arms! Right face, forward 
march !" (March off right of stage) 

Enter Capt. right of stage. Capt. calls Gabe. Enter 

26 



Gabe, right of stage. 

Gabe — ''Yessah." 

Capt. — "I saw your mistress down the road a short 
time ago and I am going to have a little talk with 
her." 

Gabe — "Be careful, Mars Cappen, be careful; Miss 
Laura chuck full ob rebel feeling. You's good look- 
ing nufif, but I don't think you got any show dar." 

Capt. — "Ha ; here she comes, now." 

Gabe — "Miss lyaura am comtn ; I'll go an keep 
watch an see nobody interferes." (Exit Gabe.) 

(Enter Miss Johnson, left of stage opposite side of 

fence.) 

Miss Johnson — "How do you do. Captain ?" (Shakes 
hands.) 

Capt — "How do you do, Miss Johnson ?" (Leans 
on fence. ) 

Miss Jolmson — "I see the Union soldiers have suc- 
ceeded in driving our men back." 

Capt. — "Yes, Miss Laura, our troops have been 
very successful lately, and I do not think the day is 
far distant when the whole Confederacy will acknowl- 
edge themselves defeated," 

Miss Laicra — "Do you consider yourself a Union 
Soldier?" 

Capt — I certainly do. Why ?" 

27 



Miss Laura — "From the position you are in, I could 
not rei ognize you as either a Uaion or a Confederate 
SoMier." 

Capt —Why so ? 

Miss Laura — "Because you are on the fence." 

Capt (aside) — "I am doing pretty well if there is 
nothing back of this." (Jumps over fence.) 

Capt — "Miss Laura, you know that a fence has been 
the cause of uniting many persons closer than friend- 
ship." 

Miss Laura — "There is an exception in this case." 

Capt. — "I see no reason why we should not be 
friends." 

Miss I^aura — ''You may think so but I do not agree 
with you. No man is a friend to me, who is in arms 
against our cause. If you would join our forces and 
asj-ist in driving those horrid Yankees for our soil, 
then our friendship might be greater than it is at 
present." 

Capt. (starting back, facing right of stage) "Madam 
neither you nor any one else could persuade me to de- 
sert that glorious old Stars and Stripes." 

(Enter two Confederates, left of stage, behind the 
Capt. and seize him by the arms ; demand his surren- 
der ; Miss Laura screams ; enter Gabe from opposite 
side, levolver in each hand.) 

Gabe — "Hole on dar ! Drop dat man ! Let him go 
or I'll bore you uns full ob holes. Now git ! Skee- 

28 



daddle ! (Exit rebels left of stage.) 

Gabe (handing revolvers to Capt., trembling) *'Say, 
Mars Cappen, take dtse yer things ; dey might go off 
an hurt somebody. After I lef you I went back to 
yer tent an foun em, I knowed you dun forgit em: so 
I thought I had better fotch em to yo. Jist got heah 
in time cidn't I." (Capt. puts revolvers in hip 
pockets.) 

Capt. — "Yes, Gabe, you did me a favor that time; I 
will remember you; I admit I was rather careless in 
coming here without being armed. Miss Laura, was 
that a pre-arranged |plan of yours to have me cap- 
tured?" 

Miss Laura — "No, sir; I did not know that any 
Confederates were so near. Probably those two men 
were secreted in our barn at the time our troops re- 
treated from this place." 

Capt. — "I cannot doubt your word, Miss Laura, I 
believe you are sincere ; but at the same time, it came 
near being an unfortunate affair to me." 

Miss Laura — ' 'I am pleased to know it terminated in 
your favor ; (turning to Gabe) I see you have my slave 
with you ; is he your body-guard now ? He appeared 
like it a little while ago." 

Capt. — "No, he fills the position of my cook at pres- 
ent, I see one of my men approaching, excuse me a 
moment.' ' (Exit Capt. right of stage) 

Miss Laura — "Gabe, are you content with the sol- 
diers ? I think you would fare better on the planta- 

29 



tion," 

Gabe — "I'se very well 'tented, Miss Laura, Mars 
Cappon he very kind to me, but I hab it bery rough 
wid de soldiers specially bout meal time." 

I\Iiss Laura — "I suppose you think you are free, 
■ now ?" 

Gabc — "I did heah dat Mars Linkum gwine ter set 
all de colored people free, den dere will be no moh 
slaves. We's all been aprayin fer our freedom, an I 
think dat day soon come now, den we can list and 
help bring de South back in de Union." 

Miss Laura — "Say, Gabe, do you know if the Capt. 
is married or not ? It's impossible to tell anything 
about those >Torthern soldiers, they are very deceiv- 
ing." 

(^(a;^*? (aside) "I knowed sutnfin was de matter. I 
bet de North and South come togedder pretty soon.") 
"No Miss Laura ; I doan beleib de Cappen is married, 
he doan act dat way ; I know he think a power sight 
ob you, but you cant put Rebel ideahs in his hed cause 
he aint built dat yer way." 

Miss Laura — * '(Aside) Oh ! what is it that makes 
my heart palpitate in this manner ? Is it love ? And 
for an enemy to our cause, too?" 

Gabe — (Aside) "Golly ! Miss Laura's got em ; she's 
got em shuah. I bet de Cappon bring her round arter 
a while. She's pretty near gone. ' ' 

Miss Laura — "Gabe, do not expose my feelings to 
the Capt.; I could not control them." 

30 



Gabe — "No, Miss I^aura, I wouldn't tell what either 
one ob you done ; but you feelins just now wasn't 
nuffin to what de Cappen said, dis mornin after you 
left he said, you was a scorcher, and de debilish-" 

Miss Later a — What ! " 

Gabe (jumps) — '*He said as how you was de mos 
debilish fines girl he eber laid his eyes on ; an I tole 
im it was de truf too. " 

(Enter Capt. to right.) 

Gz/>/.— "Ah, Miss Laura, we have got to advance 
our Pickets : so I come to bid you adieu. I am real 
sorry to part with such pleasant company." 

Miss Laura — "You mean, to part from such a 
'scorcher.' " 

Capt. — "Gabe, you black rascal, have you been 
talking about me ? 

Gabe — "No, Mars Cappon, I wouldn't tell what 
anybody said. Say, Mars Cappon, is you got em too?" 

C^//.— "Got what?" 

Gabe — "Do your heart palpertate fer de enemies ob 
our cause?" 

Miss Laura — "Gabe, S11.KNCK !" 

Gabe — -''Yes, Miss Laura, I reckon dere is one too 
many heah in dis skirmish. I better get out befo I 
get de palpertation ob de heart." (Exit Gabe, right of 
stage.) 

31 



Capt. — (Extending both hands to Miss Laura) 
"Laura, is this true ? Has Gabe, through his ignor- 
ance, expressed our love for one another ?" 

Miss Laura — (Taking Captain's hands) ''Captain, I 
fear it is all too true ; but why should we make such 

acknowledgements ? We know not when this war 
will end. Oh, when will this cruel war be over ?" 

Gabe — (Aside of stage) "Dars anodder Breastwork 
captured." (Song rear of stage, 'When this cruel 
War is over.') Tableaux. 



ACT 3rd. Scene ist. 

Enter Sergt. to right of stage. 

Enter Corpl. to left of stage. 

Coxpl. — "Say, Sergeant, I hear the C&ptain had an 
narrow escape, this afternoon." 

Sergt. — "Yes, Gabe said the Captain was captured 
this afternoon, but the darkey had nerve enough to go 
to his assistance and drove the rebels off." 

Corpl. — ' 'Yes' I hear the Captain has fallen in love 
with that fair rebel. I expect, after the war is over 
he will be coming down here and marrying her. 
There is no show for the hkes of us ; shoulder-straps 
couDts all the time." 

Sergt. — "Yes, Corporal, the girls tr.rn up their 
noses at anything below an officer. Our only chance 
for amuiement is with the colored girls. Things are 
getting very slow this afternoon.^ I'd like to see 
Gabe's girl come around ; we might get up a joke on 



him. Hello, here he comes now." 
Enter Gabe left of stage. 

Gabe. — "Say, Sargen ; Marier, dat's my gal, you 
know, sent me word dat she would like to come out 
to de Picket Post ter see me , you doan spose de Cap- 
pin would care, do you ?" '*You know we's gwine 
ter move away from heah an I'd like mighty well ter 
see Marier befo we go." 

Sergt. — "The Captain would not object, of course 
not. Send for her to come. I'd like to see what she 
looks like." 

Gabe. — "All right, I'll sen for her." (Starts to 
leave, but sstops at left side ot stage to hear what is 
said.) 

Sergt. — ''We've got him now, Corporal, if that 
colored girl comes before Gabe gets back, we'll have 
some fun with her." 

Gabe. — (Aside. ) "You will, will you ? I'll ten to de 
funny part ob dat racket" (Exit Gabe left of stage.) 

Sergt. — **Let us go over behind the trees and wait 
until she comes." (Exit Sergeant and Corporal right 
of stage.) 

Enter Gabe left of stage, with bonnet, shawl and 
dress ; begins to put them on and then retires. 

Enter Sergeant right of stage. "I left the Corporal 
to watch the other road while I took this on. If she 
comes this way, I'll let the Corporal slide, and have 
all the fun myself. Hello, here she comes, now for a 
lively time." (Enter colored girl, left of stage.) "I 

33 



suppose this is Marner that Gabe talked so much 
about." (Gabe, "Hem-Hem.") 

Sergi. — "What's the matter ? can't you talk ?" 

Colored Girl. — "Yes sir ; I cum ter see if my feller 
was aroun." 

Scrgt. — "Who, Gabe ? He's gone over to the Cap- 
tain's tent and wont be back for an hour yet What's 
the use of your fooling with that ugly nigger? You 
might just as well sit down awhile with me. (Sets two 
stools.) That's it, make yourself right at home.'' 
(Girl sits down with Sergeant.) 

Scrgt. — (Aside. I believe she's bashful ; I'll try to 
loosen her tongue a little.) "Say, Marier, I was over 
to the commissary's this afternoon and got some 
whiskey; do you drink ?" (Offers her the canteen.) 

Girl. — "Yes sir, I like a little." (Takes the canteen 
and empties it down her throat ; hands canteen back 
to Sergeant ) 

Scrgt. — (Looking at empty canteen.) ''Great Cea- 
ser ! Where is the lyiquor gone ?" 

Girl. — "Is dat good for de chills ?" 

Scrgt. — ' 'Yes. Why ?' ' 

Crabe. — (Changing his voice.) "Cause I feel like 
shaking. Is yo got no mo liquor ? (Starts to run as 
the Sergeant attempts to catch hold of him. 

Exit Gabe left of stage. 

Knter Corporal right of stage. 

34 



Corpl. — "Hello, Sergt , you got the best of me that 
time. What was the trouble with you and the girl ?" 

Sergt — *'Gir] be hanged ! It was that infernal nig- 
ger Gabe. He got the best of us after all." 

Corpl. — "It's pretty near tattoo ; I guess we had 
better get back with the boys again.'' (Exit both 
light of stage.) 

ACT 3d. Scene 2d. 

Raid on Sutler's tent, back of stage. 

Enter three soldiers left of stage. 

ist soldier says ; "Boys that is a miserly old sutler 
we have. I move we raid hioi tonight." (Other 
soldiers second the motion and agreed.) 

ist soldier. — ''AH right, come on, we will get some 
more of the boys and wake the sutler up. 

Scene changes, shows sutler's tent, sutler asleep. 
Soldiers creep up in front of tent. 

ist soldier. — 'When I give the word, all rush." (He 
gives the word and the soldiers give a rebel yell, throw 
pots, pans and barrels in tent, soldiers rush in front of 
tent. Sutler runs out the back way, crosses 
stage from right side, hat, coat and shoes off. 
Exclains ; the Johnnies like to caught me that time, 
retires to left of stages. Soldiers help themselves and 
retire. ) 



ACT 3d. Scene 3d. 

Picket-Post. Stacked guns. Pickets sitting on 
ground. Serg:t. and Corpl. sitting on camp stools. 

35 



Gabe lying down. One Picket on duty. 

Sergt. — "Well, boys, its pretty near tattoo ; suppose 
we have a song before we turn in. Let's sing "When 
Johnnie Comes Marching Home. " (AH rise and sing 
the song ; Gabe finishes the last verse in his own way; 

Scrgt. — "That darkey is bound to have his mouth 
into everything." 

Gabe. — ^"Yes sah ; but it wouldn't work in the chill 
racl^et just now." 

Sergt. — "Gabe, give us a little music ; will you ?'" 

Gabe amuses the men with music, after which he 
says , "Guess I go and get de Cappen's bed ready for 
him. ' ' Retires to right of stage. 

5£7-^/.— "Corporal, tell the Bugler to sound Assem- 
bly." 

Bugle souids at distance. Soldiers run in on stage, 
fall in line same as Reveille. Serjeant calls roll. En 
ter Captain. Sergeant salutes. Reports one man 
killed during the day. Captain salutes, commands 
Order Arms, Place Rest, then takes his place right of 
line, drops point of sword at rest. Sound Tattoo. 
After this, returns sword to scabbard, salutes Sergeant 
tells him to dismiss the guards, and retires right of 
stage Sergeant does so. Men all lie down on stage 
except Corporal sitting on stool and Picket facing 
audience. Curtain rises at rear showing tableau ; 
Lady sitting at table with two children; one chair va- 
cant ; lady's hand resting on, and eyes looking at 
chair ; representing the soldier's dream. Song, rear 
of stage, "The Vacant Chair." Bugle sounds. (Taps.) 

Curtain Falls- 
36 



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